FLINT TOWNSHIP, Mich.— Started by a creative for creatives, Crystal Pace’s Creative Café is a space to celebrate the community. From locally sourced ingredients to showcasing artists like her, Pace says that it was a space for people like her to feel welcomed.
“Creative café is a place where I like to do all sorts of different creative ventures,” Pace said. “I frequently have music there, I sell local artists’ work there for them, I have free arts and crafts supplies there. Any time, you can come, read a book, bring a project, whatever— just so long as there is room at the table, go for it.”
A creative jack of all trades, Pace lives and breathes art. From painting to crocheting and everything in between, she created the idea of the café for a project in her marketing class at Davison High School.
The program, called DECA, helps students draft and pitch their own business ideas.
“In layman’s terms, it’s pretty much a science fair but for business.,” she said. “I had a family friend who was interested in my idea and over three years, we made it happen.”
It wasn’t an easy start. Working full-time at Home Depot, she spent her free time growing the space for three years.
“I renovated the space for two and a half years- pretty much by myself- until we were able to start getting the actual coffee shop together,” she said.
Then came the menus, designing the logo of the café, and drafting recipes.
“I have a silent business partner who really wanted to help bring my dream to life. At first, I didn’t really believe him, but he was persistent,” she joked.
Like a cup of hot coffee and a muffin, the idea of art and a café go perfectly together, she said.
“I don’t want to be a starving artist, and everyone likes coffee. That’s kind of a business model that is going to stay around for a while, and coffee, music, a bakery and art all kind of go together,” she said. “I thought it would be a good way to have my passion of art but also have a consistent influx of money.”
Growing up in the Flint-area and in Davison, Pace wanted to keep the café as local as she could. Her coffee is from Rootless Coffee based in Flint, while her ice cream for affogatos is from Great Lakes Ice Cream in Midland. Her teas are from Ann Arbor, from aptly named Arbor Teas, and the muffins, scones, and cupcakes are made in house.
A source for creative endeavors, Case partnered with Flint Handmade to create a free craft and art supply closet, along with showcasing the free clothing closet next door at The Bridge Flint.
She even has a “pay it forward” board, where you can anonymously gift meals or drinks to others.
For local artists, she sets up tables to feature local artists and their wares.
“I wanted to make something for my community,” she said.
While it might seem easy to start and run your own business, she said that it is not the case.
“I like that I get to dictate everything, so I don’t have to rely on someone else’s work schedule,” she said. “It’s a lot of work- there’s a lot of things that you might not expect. It’s really a balancing act- balancing the business, balancing my personal life.”
Just like starting any type of creative endeavor, she says that it is all about trust.
“You really have to be passionate about it, you have to trust that it is going to work out, and if you need to take a break, then take a break,” she said.
Creative Café is in Flint in Carmen Plaza off Corunna Road.
They are open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., and from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
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